In the dead of winter, nothing tastes as warm as a hot pot.
Bai Jianmin and his group killed a large, fat chicken and chopped up two pieces of mutton, quickly putting them into a large pot to stew slowly.
Afterwards, they caught about 10 fish, killed them, chopped them into pieces, and soaked them with about 100 kinds of mountain delicacies. There were also a lot of shrimp and crabs soaking in the basin, and they were quite big. These were all ingredients that Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan had delivered early in the morning.
Xiao Lei and Mai Nian went out and bought a block of tofu, while Lu Xi'er and Lu Hua'er, the two sisters, washed vegetables, cooked rice, and kneaded dough.
Chicken stew with mushrooms, mutton stew with radish and potatoes, fish stew with tofu, cold scrambled eggs, stir-fried shrimp and crab with chili peppers, stir-fried cabbage, and stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar. The staple foods are rice and steamed buns.
When Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan arrived by bicycle, the kitchen was bustling with activity.
They hadn't been there long when Su Ze and Zhou Wanwan arrived on their bicycles with Da Bao and Xiao Bao, followed by Lao Feng and the Lu father and son, and then Lu Baoguo and Guang Sheng, who had just finished work.
The alleyway courtyard quickly became lively again, with several people gathering together.
"Captain, it's an honor to meet you in person, welcome to Kyoto."
Lu Baoguo recognized Bai Lianshan from the crowd at a glance and happily went up to him to shake his hand tightly.
"You must be Director Lu. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Bai Lianshan had heard of Lu Baoguo's reputation before. They both came from the military, and they immediately felt a sense of mutual respect.
"Captain, nice to meet you."
"Uncle Captain, I am Feng Lu."
Old Feng and Feng Lu were also very excited to see Bai Lianshan. The grandfather and grandson walked up to him together and couldn't wait to greet him.
It's been several years since they last went back. However, Old Feng would often send books and materials that the students could access to the production team.
"Old Feng, you look pretty good! Hey Lu, you've grown taller and bigger, what grade are you in now?!"
Bai Lianshan was also very excited as he looked at the Feng family grandfather and grandson. He had heard long ago that Old Feng had been transferred to work in Beijing and still maintained contact with the Su family. The two families were like real relatives.
"Uncle Captain, I'm starting junior high this year, and I'll be taking the high school entrance exam next year. But I want to go to high school and then university."
Feng Lu was surprised that the brigade leader still remembered his story. He scratched his head sheepishly and then grinned foolishly.
"Grandpa Captain, Brother Lu's grades are really good. He's first in his class and among the top in the grade."
"Yes, Brother Darrow will definitely get into a top high school, and then he'll go to the university where my grandparents and parents are. Hehe, I'll make my parents Brother Darrow's teachers."
Da Bao and Xiao Bao also came over, vying to tell the brigade leader that their brother Lu was very good at studying.
"Your brother Lu is so good at studying, Da Bao and Xiao Bao, what about you two?!"
Seeing the two children's proud expressions, Bai Lianshan wondered if he could ask them about their grades.
"Uncle Captain, Xingchen and Xinghai also have excellent grades, always getting full marks. They are already in fifth grade this year, and they have even completed the first year of junior high school courses on their own. They are definitely not as good as me."
Feng Lu thought her two younger brothers were also very impressive; they skipped a grade in elementary school and started directly from the second grade.
Grandpa and Grandma wanted their two younger brothers to start junior high school so early, and they're already in their first year of junior high this year. Although they haven't started junior high yet, they've already finished the first year and are starting to study the second year curriculum on their own.
"Okay, okay, you're all amazing, you're all great!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Lianshan couldn't help but give the children a thumbs up, praising them for studying so diligently.
Since Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan returned, the production team has never had the same vitality and motivation as when they were there.
"Captain, Lao Lu, Lao Feng, dinner's ready."
Su Huaiyuan received orders from his wife to hurry up and start eating, as the food would get cold quickly in the cold weather.
"Let's eat."
"I'm in for a treat tonight."
"But, there was chicken, mutton, fish, and even shrimp and crab. Old Su and Old Qiao really went all out for this meal."
"I couldn't help but drool while I was cooking."
"Me too."
"It smells so good."
...
There were six large tables in the main living room of the courtyard. Su Huaiyuan and Bai Lianshan, Old Feng and Tang Baoguo, Guang Sheng, Su Ze, and Master Song sat at one table. Qiao Jiuru, Zhou Wanwan and Da Bao and Xiao Bao, the Lu sisters, and Feng Lu sat at another table.
Xiao Lei and Mai Nian sat at a table with Bai Jianmin and five or six other people from the production team. The age difference between them was quite large. In particular, Mai Nian and Bai Jianmin had been to Haishi and the south together, so they naturally had a lot to talk about.
However, now is the time to talk. Looking at the big pot of chicken stew with mushrooms, spicy shrimp and crab, mutton stew with potatoes and radishes on the table, their mouths watered wildly.
We ate, and waited a moment longer.
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